A full-blooded encounter led to Cambridge University suffering a 24-17 defeat to the 88’s Invitational XV at Grange Road on Friday night.
In what was the perfect test ahead of facing Oxford at the StoneX Stadium on Saturday, March 2, the Light Blues were given a rigorous assessment of their structures and systems by a team that included multiple Old Blues.
Despite the familiarity between the players, there was no chance of anyone taking it easy, with big hits coming all over the pitch, and all game long.
You are never quite sure what to expect from an invitational team, given that they have usually only joined forces for the one night, but assembled by former Cambridge University head coach Jack Baird, the 88s had a bit of everything.
They were strong at the set piece, especially the scrum, and with a raft of players on the books of the Saracens academy, were adept with ball in hand as well.
It was therefore a question of how Emilia Bushrod’s side would take on the challenge against a more experienced opposition, and they were more than equal to the test.
They did well to efficiently manage the situations where the visitors had the upper hand, and utilised their dominance at the line-out to good effect and, on another day, may have got clear for a breakaway try in the final minute.
There was a blistering start from the 88s, with a series of pick and gos building up the phases before Neuza Reis crossed the line for a try, which was converted by Old Blue Hannah Vandersluis.
Four minutes later, fly-half Zoe Goate was the beneficiary of a great line break, eventually receiving the ball out wide to touch down to make it 12-0.
The students did not panic and stuck to their game plan. Having kicked for touch from a penalty, they set up a catch and drive from a line-out, and a few phases later, Rose Scowen grounded the ball.
Against a formidable pack, the Light Blues got the ball over the line again in the 34th minute, with another catch and drive seeing Vianney Gomezgil Yaspik emerge with the ball in hand as the try scorer.
But Goate was at it again just before half time. She ran a great line on the diagonal to break the defensive line, and was held up just short, but a phase later, Old Blue Maggie Simpson dived over the line to make it 17-10.
The visitors started the second period with gusto, and having been held up over the line by some resilient Cambridge defence, the concerted attacking play earned its rewards with a try from Akesa Kaukitoga, who powered over. Vandersluis’ conversion made it 24-10.
But the Light Blues were far from out of the game, and were forcing their opponents deeper into their own half.
The deficit was reduced in the 67th minute when the students’ patience paid off after a number of drives for the line, with Ella Heathfield nimbly pouncing to dive over for a try which Izzy Boothroyd converted.
Despite some promising attacking moves in the final stages, Cambridge were just unable to get back on level terms but there will no doubt be plenty for them to take from the performance in the final stages of their preparations to face Oxford on March 2.
Cambridge University: Middleton; Twigg, Boothroyd, Vass, E O’Keeffe; Mason, Bushrod; Jones, Latimer, Heathfield, Friend, Bryant, Scowen, P Smith, Bell.
Replacements: Grabauskaite, Gomezgil Yaspik, Worth, Hardwick, Boxall, A Smith, S O’Keeffe, Yau.
88’s Invitational XV: Vandersluis (Hampstead); Flowers (Saracens), Simpson (Reading Abbey), Williams (Sudbury), Hunt (Saracens CoE); Goate (Colchester), Marks (Leeds Beckett University); Weatherhogg (CURUFC), Hicks (Shelford), Reis (Reading Abbey), Probert (Hammersmith & Fulham), Soyei (Saracens CoE), Pigg (St Neots), Murphy (Exeter University), Dening (Shelford).
Replacements: Izinyon (Richmond), Kaukitoga (Reading Abbey), Rogers (Sudbury), Britton (St Neots), Knibbs (Saracens CoE), Welman (Sudbury).
Scorers: 4min Reis try – Vandersluis con (0-7), 8 Goate try (0-12), 13 Scowen try (5-12), 34 Gomezgil Yaspik try (10-12), 40+7 Simpson try (10-17), 44 Kaukitoga try – Vandersluis con (10-24), 67 Heathfield try – Boothroyd con (17-24).
